私は日本人ですよ。

So this past week was go go go go go go. Thursday was zone conference, again. Well, because Elder Aoyagi Choro came last week, the Mission President didn't have time to do interviews, so he had to come all over again. Then we did companion exchanges, and I got to be companions with Nakano Shimai for the 4th or 5th time. We are always working next to each other. We just keep following each other around.

We continued to clean up the mold on Friday. Crazy mold. We couldn't get it all. But at least we emptied the room and sprayed it with bleach. This less active's commitment (as a missionary we always have to leave a commitment behind) was to wipe down the walls after 5 hours. Then spray it all again with bleach. Like I said I'm just worried for the two little girl's health.

Saturday we went to the temple with the ward. Our recent convert, Nishiyama Shimai, went and got baptized for ancestors that died without the opportunity. As with everything with her, you just kinda have to hold her hand and push her every step of the way. I wonder who will do that when I'm gone. We'll be doing Family Home Evening with her this evening and we're working on getting her to talk to her hometeachers and make that contact. I think she'll be fine. 

Then we did an endowment session of our own, and then I got to see the sealing of the Son Family. The Son family is Chinese, but have been in Japan for over 10 years. They met the missionaries and got baptized a little over a year ago. Now they were sealed in God's temple as a family for time and all eternity. After the ceremony, you know how the groom is supposed to kiss the bride? Well, in China that is super awkward.

Like really not done. They don't even hold hands or anything. I think it was most embarrassing for the wife. Then they brought in their two little girls, 6 and 4, and were sealed as a family. Cute!

Don't worry, my desire to get married isn't any stronger, but my desire to have cute little kids is stronger. (Editor's note, not sure that is at all reassuring....)  During all of this, Nishiyama Shimai was in the waiting room holding a 4 month old baby girl so the mom could go in the temple. Nishiyama Shimai probably thought that was better than doing proxy baptisms.

We got home around 9 at night, then left again in the morning before 8 to get to church. I somehow managed to hand make a book cover for a Chinese Book of Mormon to give to Liu Shimai at her baptism. There was no stress there at all for me. Well, except that they had to dunk her 3 times to make sure all of her hair and stuff got into the water.

The priesthood holder doing the baptizing was Son Kyodai (see the eternal family in the above paragraph). This was his first time, and he forgot the Amen part at the end. Twice. Oops. Liu Shimai's testimony made the bishop cry. After the service the members came up to me at said congratulations. Now they see why sisters are in the middle of nowhere Saijo. But honestly it wasn't me. I didn't do a thing but tell them what God's commandments were. They did the following part. It was very very cool. Liu Shimai got flowers and said that she was happier than she was at her wedding ceremony.

Training a bean-chan (new missionary) is hard work! But just a few weeks ago the church came out with an in-field training program for new missionaries. This paper tells me what to study, and when, and we watch parts of a movie, where real missionaries teach real investigators. That's her favorite part.

I was kinda having a hard time until I realized, wait, she is shy.  It hit me all at once. President says not to push it or anything, that it will come naturally. Just by being around me she will naturally become more outgoing. I've never been shy in my entire life. Ever.

Have I? I have no problem standing in front of people and talking.

These were never any problem for me. Poor bean-chan. I make her happy by using her name kanji (which is super hard) and letting her wash my dishes. Her hobby is cleaning. Too bad she has a mold allergy. Ha ha.

Well, I want to send pictures. Then the people at this community center place where we are doing email want me to check her English on something. Ha ha.

Sister Lemmon

Liu Shimai's baptism.  Mom, as per your request, this is the normal face pictures.  But don't worry, I also have the funny face picture.

Son Family as an eternal family

MOLD - the BEFORE shot. Zooming in is highly recommended. Mom, be careful! Who knew that mold came in so many different varieties.  Brown, black, navy blue, etc. Don't worry, we wore a mask and plastic gloves as we cleaned.

 

MOLD - the AFTER shot.  Still not done, but see the before shot below.